West Yellowstone, MT Road Trips
West Yellowstone, MT serves as a quiet starting point in the Mountain West, connecting drivers to 2 outbound routes across the area. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 377 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from West Yellowstone, MT head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
387.7 mi
Whitefish, MT
Quickest Drive
4h 52m
Great Falls, MT
Plan Around West Yellowstone, MT
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if West Yellowstone, MT is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From West Yellowstone, MT
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from West Yellowstone, MT
Driving from West Yellowstone, MT
On average, trips departing from West Yellowstone, MT run 377 miles with a drive time of roughly 6h 53m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 383 miles (6h 57m), while the shortest is just 371 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from West Yellowstone, MT include Havre, MT (382.6 mi, 6h 57m) and Kalispell, MT (370.5 mi, 6h 50m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 377-mile drive from West Yellowstone, MT, expect to burn about 14.8 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving West Yellowstone, MT and 4 routes heading into West Yellowstone, MT, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 371 to 383 miles.
The longest mapped route from West Yellowstone, MT covers 383 miles and takes approximately 6h 57m. Shorter options start at just 371 miles.
The average route from West Yellowstone, MT runs about 377 miles with a drive time of roughly 6h 53m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from West Yellowstone, MT include Havre, MT and Kalispell, MT. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
West Yellowstone, MT by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
1,457
Median Income
$57,167
Median Home Value
$402,600
Median Age
33.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
West Yellowstone, MT at a Glance
Founded
1909
Elevation
6,667 ft
Area
1 mi²
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in West Yellowstone, MT.
Eagle's Store
historic commercial building in West Yellowstone, Montana, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q956110), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to West Yellowstone, MT
West Yellowstone, Montana, is a rustic mountain town nestled between National Forest lands and is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. It is only a mile from the park entrance, and the town's airport is the closest to the park, and to attractions like Old Faithful.
West Yellowstone is a tourist town with tourist prices. You will find many souvenir items in the stores and specialty Montana-made products. During summer be prepared to wait in any restaurant. This is the only place to gather supplies for quite a while in any direction. Be sure you are stocked up for whatever season. Water! There will be little opportunity to fill your water bottles so take more than you think you will need. Hebgen Lake District forest service office: West Yellowstone, +1 406 823-6961
1 Museum of the Yellowstone, 104 Yellowstone Ave (in the old Union Pacific Station Building). Mid-May to mid-Oct. Shows a history of Yellowstone National Park and the tourist train service to West Yellowstone. Includes a collection of historic railway china. $6.
Montana Whitewater Raft Company, Mile 64 on highway 191 between Bozeman and Big Sky; North of West Yellowstone, the West Entrance to the Park, toll-free: +1-800-799-4465. Offering trips on the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone Rivers.
1 Running Bear Pancake House, 538 Madison Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-7703, [email protected]. Excellent breakfast place. Known for their pancakes, but other items are delicious also. (updated Oct 2020)
1 The Buffalo Bar, 335 Hwy 20, ☏ +1 406 646-1176. (updated Oct 2020)
West Yellowstone is very much a tourist gateway to Yellowstone National Park and a large variety of accommodation options are available. 1 Best Western Crosswinds Motor Inn, 201 Firehole Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-9557, fax: +1 406 646-9592. 2 Best Western Desert Inn, US 20, 191 & 287, ☏ +1 406 646-7376, toll-free: +1-800-574-7054, fax: +1 406 646-7759. 3 Best Western Weston Inn, 103 Gibbon St, ☏ +1 406 646-7373, toll-free: +1-800-599-9982, fax: +1 406 646-7572. 4 Dude and Roundup Motel, 3 Madison Ave. 5 Faithful Street Inn, 120 N. Faithful St, toll-free: +1-866-646-4329. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Unique cabin lodging for couples, families and large groups. Cabins include wireless internet, ample parking, mountain views and modern rustic charm. 6 Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort, 315 Yellowstone Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-7365. 7 Kirkwood Resort & Marina, 11505 Hebgan Lake Rd, ☏ +1 406 646-7200. Offers well cared for cabin rentals (some with full kitchens), RV spaces, and tent sites. The property includes a boat launch, fuel station, and boat, equipment rentals and park with horseshoe throw, volleyball net, BBQ grills, and picnic tables. The Kirkwood Roadhouse Grill restaurant is onsite. 8 Madison Hotel, Motel, and Hostel, 139 Yellowstone Ave (at Dunraven St). Hostel dormitory rates start at $30, hotel/motel rates start at $59. 9 Stage Coach Inn, 209 Madison Avenue, P.O. Box 169, ☏ +1 406-646-7381, toll-free: +1 800-842-2882, fax: +1 406-646-9575, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2020) 10 Travelers Lodge, 225 West Yellowstone Ave.
1 Yellowstone Airport (WYS IATA) (is one mile north of the CBD). Delta (SkyWest) flies from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC IATA) two or three times a day from June to September. Salt Lake Express provides intercity bus service from Idaho.
West Yellowstone town center, including the museum, shops and restaurants, is small enough to easily walk around.
Travel tips adapted from West Yellowstone on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to West Yellowstone, MT
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